conway



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1.

- G. 0. s. CONWAY. GAR BRAKE.

No. 257,660. Patented May 9, 1882. I

N. PETERs Plmmumn n lwn Washi nnnn .C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' G. '0; s, CONWAY.

I GARBRAKE. No. 257,660. Patented May 911882.

N. PETERS Photo-Lithograph. Washington. a a

UNIT D STATES PATENT Grates.

. GEORGE o. s. ooNwAY, on STONEFIELD, AssienoE or ONE-HALF T JAMES oooPE ND FREDERICK FAIRMAN,BOTH 0E MONTREAL, CANADA,

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,660, dated May 9, 1882,

i Application filed Deeember.24,1881. (No model.) i

To all whom it mag concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE 0. S. CONWAY, of Slonefield, in the county of Argentenil and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented a certain. new and usefuli Improved Railway- Brake, and I do hereby declare that the fol- .lowingisa full, clear, and exact description of the same.

; My invention, which is applicable to all kinds of cars,.providesa continuous brake, operated. primarily by the signal-rope or other cord connected between the cars and worked from any point of the train. It. may be thus briefly de scribed: From abar or spindlepassing through the longitudinalsof the car hangs a frame, to the curved lower end of which is pivoted a curved lever carrying a shoe and connected by a link with the short'arm of a lever mounted on a spindle carried in. the upper part of the frame. The apparatus is so arranged that the frameis on one side and the curved lever on the other side of one of the axles of the truck, to the wheels of which the brakes are applied. By this arrangement, so soon as the leverpivoted to the upper part of the frame is canted, the curved lever and the frame move inward, like a pair of jaws, clasping the axle between the shoe on the lever and a drum mounted on a spindle carried in the frame. This drum, rotatedby the movement of the axle, winds upon the spindle the brake-chain, and in each case puts on the brakes. The cantin g or movement of thelever is performed by drawing on a rope or cord extending the whole length of the train, taken through these levers, but not secured to any one, the release of the tension instantaneously throwing off all the brakes. For full comprehension, however, of the invention and of the several ways in which it may be arranged and operated reference must be had to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view, and Fig. 2 a side view, partly broken away, showing the apparatus in its normal position; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation on line mm, Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5, a view and a sectional elevation of lever or crosshead. Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing ways in which my invention may be worked, and

FigSiis a diagram of a connecting-rod for operating same.

Similarlettersofreferenceindicatelikeparts. Ais a bar or spindle carried in the longitudinals of the car,'from which hangs the frame B B, of the form shown, with curvedlower ends, B B, the rod passing through slots 1) b. so as to allow the frame to oscillate in any direction. 0 is a rotating spindle carried in the frame B B, and having mounted upon it a drum, 0. D is another spindle, carried in the frame, on which is mounted the lever or-,cross-head E, constructed as shown in detail in. Figs. 4 and 5, and carrying in its ends sheaves c e.

D is a loose sleeve carried on the spindle D.- To the upper endor short arm of the lever E is pivoted a link, F, connected by a pivotpin with a curved lever, G, pivoted to the lower ends, B B, of the frame, and being of the shape shown more particularly in Fig. 1. To this lever G is attached,bya set-screwor boltpassing throughlugs h h,a curved shoe,H. 7o I is the cord or connecting-line through which the brakes are operated, in this case preferably madeof wire, carried through the levers E E, as shown in Fig. 5, but not secured to them. i

K is a chain passing overthe sleeve D, and having one end secured to the spindle (J and the other to the end of the brake-lever. The apparatus just described works in the following manner: By drawing on the rope I in either direction the lever E swings on the I spindle D, its longer arm being raised and the shorter arm thrown back, taking with it the link F, and thereby bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 3, both the shoe H and the drum G being in contact with the axle L on opposite sides, grasping and holding it firmly in the styleof a pincher-frame or pair of jaws. The axle L, fulcrumed against the shoe H, rotates the drum G, and with it the spindle G, on which it is mounted, winding upon this latter the chain K, passingover the sleeve D and attached to the brake-lever, thereby putting on the brakes. As soon as the tension of the rope I is relaxed the lever G and frame B, 9 5

carrying the drum O, at once open out from the axle, and the brakes are instantaneously thrown off.

The construction of the brake apparatus allows it, although secured to the car, to follow every movement of the truck, and as the inside face of the shoe is, when the brakes are on, concentric with the draw, any variation in the position of the axle relatively to the brake apparatus will not affect its action. The shoe, when at all worn, can be easily replaced.

Although the brake apparatus as just do: scribed will be the same in all cases, the means whereby it is. putin to operation-21 6.,13118 requi site movement given to the lever E-will vary with differing requirements. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are shown some ofthe devices which may be used for the purpose.-

In Fig. 6 the usual vertical brake-rod is employed, as shown at M, a cross-head similar in construction to the lever E being set horizontally ontop of same and the continuous connecting-cord Ipassed through it. Onto the lower end of the brake-rod M is secured the usual disk orarm,M, connected by arod orlink, N, with an eye, E, on the lower end ofthe lever. This, as will be seen, utilizes the ordinary braking mechanism of box freight-cars. By drawing from the locomotive, caboose, or any other part of the train on the rope I each cross-head E, and byit each rod M and arm M, is turned, and through the links N all the levers E are moved and the brakes thereby simultaneously put on. Instead of this construction, the following (shown in Fig. 7) may be substituted, especially in the case of flat or platform cars: In this the rod A is carried out nearly to the face of the cars on either side, on its end being mounted a lever or cross-head identical in construction with the lever E, through which is passed in the same way the continuous rope- I. When this is drawn on in either direction and from any point in the train the shaft A is turned, and with it a quadrant or segment, A, mounted thereon and connected by a chain or link, 0, with the eye E, thus working the lever E and putting on the brakes. As the rope I is not fastened to any one of the levers or cross heads, but simply passes them, the difficulty of taking up the slack between the cars is'completely obviated, as it can be drawn at once to full tension.

If desired, the modification of. the operating or motive mechanism shown in Fig. 8 maybe adopted. In this a rod, P, formed in sections, connected together in any suitable way, is carried under the car in swinging hangers P, so as to be able to oscillate in every direction. Suitable devices connect these rods between the cars, so as to form a continuous rod the whole length of the train, and this may be rotated to the proper extent at any desired point by means of a disk, segment, arm, or corresponding device. Segments P placed just above the brake mechanism proper, will through links or chains, as at 0, act upon the lever E, thus putting on the brakes.

What I claim is as follows:' i

1. In a railway-brake, the combination of a swinging oscillating frameand lever pivoted thereto operated to grip the axle, when so desired, between then], and thereby wind up the brake-chains and put on the brakes, all substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a railway-brake, of a swinging frame, a curved lever carrying ashoe, a drum and spindle carried in frame, and a lever pivoted in the upper part of the swinging frame, worked by means of a cord passing through it,but unattached thereto,andoperatin g to close the lever and frame on the axle, and thereby put on the brakes, all substantially as herein described.

3. The combination, with a rod, either vertical or horizontal, operating when rotated to cant the lever E, to which it is connected, and thereby apply the brake mechanism herein described, of a cross-head mounted onend of said shaft and moved in either direction by a continuous cord passing through same, all as herein set forth.

Montreal, 17th day of December, A. D. 1881.

' eaoren '0. s. CONWAY. 

